Wife says she was told gun was empty before she fatally shot husband

HOUSTON – Charges are pending against a woman accused of fatally shooting her husband in their southwest Houston living room early Wednesday, police said.

According to the Houston Police Department, the shooting happened around 2:25 a.m. in the 6500-block of Jackwood Street.

Responding officers said they were greeted by the woman at the front door after she called 911 to tell them about the shooting.

Sonia Whitford, 47, told investigators she and her husband were drinking when her husband started playing with his shotgun. She said he told her the gun wasn’t loaded and handed it to her. She said she then pointed the shotgun at her husband’s head and pulled the trigger, police said.

Troy Whitford, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The couple’s 16-year-old son was at home but was not injured. The boy was sent to Harris County Children’s Protective Services.